Injured suspect found in hospital

Shootout at petrol station robbery

An attempted robbery suspect was twice unlucky when he was nabbed by police at the weekend‚ after being shot by members of the public who refused to stand by and watch a crime in progress. According to Gauteng police spokesperson Capt Mavela Masondo, the suspect was arrested just after 9am on Saturday in hospital following an intensive manhunt by police. Masondo said the suspect and his accomplice allegedly tried to rob a petrol station in Amalgam‚ Johannesburg‚ just after 11pm the previous night. “It is alleged that two armed suspects entered the shop at a petrol station and demanded cash at gunpoint. It is reported that a shootout ensued between the robbers and patrons who were in the shop‚ after which one suspect was fatally shot [and killed] and another suspect fled the scene on foot.” He said nothing was taken from the store.

A Chevrolet Aveo vehicle and two firearms believed to have been used by the robbers were recovered by police. Masondo said a manhunt was immediately launched for the suspect who fled the scene and he was located at a hospital in Ekurhuleni‚ with gunshot wounds. Masondo said police could not rule out the possibility of the suspects being part of a gang responsible for a spate of recent robberies at fuel stations in Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni. “Numerous cases of business robberies were reported where a white Chevrolet Aveo was involved and the modus operandi was almost the same.” A case of business robbery‚ attempted murder and inquest has been opened. The arrested suspect will appear at the Johannesburg magistrate’s court as soon as he is discharged from hospital.

‘‘ Two armed suspects demanded cash at gunpoint in the shop